MoneyGeek's Take

Best Credit Union Cards Credit Cards for Cash Back in 2023

The best credit union credit cards for cash back charge no annual fees. Some of these cards come with welcome offers too.

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This article is part of our larger series on Best Cash Back Credit Cards

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Last Updated: 5/1/2023

The content on this page is accurate as of the posting date; however, some of the offers mentioned may have expired.

If you are looking for a cash back credit union credit card, you have multiple options. However, not all cards from this category come with the same features and benefits, so it's important to consider your unique requirements when making your choice.

A common feature among the top cash back credit union credit cards we’ve selected is they offer flat cash back rates across all categories, although the cash back rate varies from one card to the next. For example, while both Navy Federal Credit Union cashRewards cards (Visa and Mastercard) let you earn up to 1.75% cash back on all purchases, you may earn up to 2.5% cash back with the Alliant Visa Signature Card.

Other factors that need your attention when choosing a card include intro APR offers, regular APRs, fees and added benefits.

OUR REVIEW AT A GLANCE

Our Top 3 Picks
Summarized List of All Winners
Tips for Comparing Credit Cards

This article is part of our larger series on
Best Cash Back Credit Cards

MoneyGeek’s Take: Top 3 Credit Union Credit Cards for Cash Back

Quick Summary

The cash back rate you stand to earn might vary depending on the card you get. While this factor plays an important role in our selection of the top three credit union cash back cards, we also pay due attention to other aspects such as welcome offers, APRs, annual fees and added perks. Scrolling further down the page lets you view other good cards from this segment.

Alliant Visa Signature Card
A great no-annual-fee card with cash back and added perks
- Good–ExcellentRecommended Credit
- $0Annual Fee
- 16.99% – 26.99% VariableAPR
- 1.5% – 2.5% Cash BackRewards Rate
The Alliant Visa Signature Card might work well for you if you wish to earn high cash back on all purchases and get a variety of perks without paying any annual fees. If you qualify for Tier One Rewards, you get 2.5% cash back on the first $10,000 you spend on eligible purchases every billing cycle and 1.5% cash back on all other eligible purchases. If you qualify for Tier Two Rewards, you earn 1.5% cash back on all eligible purchases.
To qualify for Tier One Rewards, you need to meet the requirements for an Alliant High-Rate Checking account and maintain an average daily balance of $1,000 or more in every month of the preceding calendar quarter.
This card comes with no foreign transaction fees, making it perfect to use outside of the U.S. Additional benefits include personal identity theft protection, purchase security, extended warranty protection, roadside dispatch, travel accident insurance and auto rental collision damage waiver.
Pros
No annual fees
No foreign transaction fees
Up to 2.5% cash back on spending of up to $10,000 each billing cycle
Purchase and travel protection

Cons
2.5% cash back only if you qualify for Tier One Rewards
Balance transfer fees
No annual and foreign transaction fees
Qualify for Tier One Rewards and earn 2.5% cash back on purchases of up to $10,000 each billing cycle
Earn 1.5% cash back on all purchases if you qualify for Tier Two Rewards
Works with Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Pay
$0 fraud liability guarantee
Purchase security and extended warranty protection
Auto rental collision damage waiver and travel accident insurance
Disclaimer: Credit card offers are constantly changing. We work hard to stay updated with the latest information, but the offers listed on our site may no longer be available.
Terms, rates and fees apply
Power Cash Rewards Visa Signature® Card
A good no annual fee balance transfer card with cash back
- Good–ExcellentRecommended Credit
- $0Annual Fee
- 1.5% – 2% Cash BackRewards Rate
- 12 monthsBalance Transfer Duration
We think the Power Cash Rewards Visa Signature® Card might work well for people who don’t want to pay annual fees and wish to earn cash back. If you’re a PenFed Honors Advantage member, you earn 2% cash back on all purchases. It changes to 1.5% for non-members. If you spend $1,500 in the first 90 days, you receive a $100 bonus statement credit.
You get to redeem the cash back you earn as statement credit, as a deposit into your into your PenFed Checking or Share account or as a scheduled monthly deposit into an account you hold with any other bank or credit union.
This card’s a 0% APR offer on balance transfers stays in place for 12 months. However, you need to pay a 3% balance transfer fee. Using this card outside of the U.S. is perfect given that it does not charge foreign transaction fees. It comes with no cash advance fees.
Pros
No annual fees
No foreign transaction fees
Bonus statement credit
Up to 2% flat cash back rewards rate
Balance transfer promo offer

Cons
Purchase variable APR of 17.99%
Credit union membership required
Balance transfer fee
No annual fees
2% cash back for PenFed Honors Advantage Members
1.5% cash back for non-members
$100 bonus offer statement credit on $1,500 spent within the first 90 days
0% balance transfer promo APR for 12 months, although a 3% fee applies on each transfer
Disclaimer: Credit card offers are constantly changing. We work hard to stay updated with the latest information, but the offers listed on our site may no longer be available.
Terms, rates and fees apply
Navy Federal Credit Union Visa Signature cashRewards Card
A great no annual fee cash back card for average to excellent credit
- 13.40% – 18.00% VariableAPR
- $0Annual Fee
- 1.5%–1.75% Cash BackRewards Rate
- 0%Balance Transfer Fee
- Fair–ExcellentRecommended Credit
We recommend the Navy Federal Credit Union Visa Signature cashRewards Card to people who don’t have perfect credit and want to earn cash back without paying annual fees. If you’ve set up a direct deposit with Navy Federal, you get 1.75% cash back on all purchases. Otherwise, you earn 1.5% cash back on all purchases.
As part of the card’s welcome offer, you stand to earn $100 bonus cash back by spending $1,000 on purchases within the first 90 days. This card is ideal to use outside of the U.S. as it comes with no foreign transaction fees. The offer expires on Feb. 28, 2023.
This card does not charge balance transfer fees or cash advance fees. It offers complimentary collision damage waiver.
Pros
No annual fees
No foreign transaction fees
Relatively low standard APR
No caps on rewards
No minimum required to redeem your points

Cons
Only those with a military background can apply
You need to have a direct deposit at Navy Federal to qualify for the 1.75% rewards rate
1.75% cash back on all purchases if you enroll in direct deposit with Navy Federal
1.5% cash back on all purchases if you don't enroll in direct deposit with Navy Federal
Earn a $100 bonus if you spend $1,000 within 90 days. The offer expires on Feb 28, 2023.
Auto rental collision damage waiver
No annual fees
No foreign transaction fees
Disclaimer: Credit card offers are constantly changing. We work hard to stay updated with the latest information, but the offers listed on our site may no longer be available.
Terms, rates and fees apply

Summary of the Best Credit Union Cards Cards for Cash Back

Take a look at the other good cards from this category by checking the corresponding credit union cash back card comparison table. It highlights how they fare when it comes to the credit score needed to apply, cash back rates and annual fees.

Credit Card
Best For
Avg. Reward Rate
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
Alliant Visa Signature Card
A great no-annual-fee card with cash back and added perks
1.5% – 2.5% Cash Back
$0
Power Cash Rewards Visa Signature® Card
A good no annual fee balance transfer card with cash back
1.5% – 2% Cash Back
$0
Navy Federal Credit Union Visa Signature cashRewards Card
A great no annual fee cash back card for average to excellent credit
1.5%–1.75% Cash Back
$0
Navy Federal Credit Union cashRewards World Mastercard®
A good no-annual fee cash back card for those with average credit
1.50% – 1.75% Cash Back
$0

MONEYGEEK EXPERT TIP

Cash back credit cards from a credit union can be a great deal for consumers. These cards typically don't have annual fees, and they offer lower interest rates in case you occasionally carry a balance. -- Lee Huffman, credit card expert at BaldThoughts.com.

How to Compare Credit Union Cards Credit Cards & Intro Offers

There are notable differences between the best credit union cards for cash back we’ve selected, so it’s important that you pay attention to what you need from your new card. Comparing your options across different aspects will help you make a suitable decision.

Cash back rate

How much cash back you may earn depends on the card you get. For example, Navy Federal Credit Union’s cashRewards Visa Signature Card and cashRewards World Mastercard offer 1.75% cash back on all purchases if you have a direct deposit with Navy Federal and 1.5% otherwise. Similarly, the Power Cash Rewards Visa Signature® Card offers 2% cash back on all purchases for PenFed Honors Advantage members and 1.5% for non-members. The Alliant Visa Signature Card, on the other hand, offers 2.5% cash back on the first $10,000 you spend on eligible purchases each month if you qualify for its Tier One rewards and 1.5% otherwise.

Welcome Offer

Many credit union credit cards do not offer welcome bonuses. However, when comparing your options, you'll discover a few that do. For example, the Power Cash Rewards Visa Signature® Card offers a $100 bonus statement credit to cardholders who spend $1,500 within the first 90 days. If you get a Navy Federal Credit Union cashRewards Card, Visa or Mastercard, you stand to earn a $200 cash back bonus if you spend $2,000 in the first 90 days.

Intro APR offer

From time to time, some credit union cash back cards run intro 0% APR offers on purchases, balance transfers or both. For example, the Power Cash Rewards Visa Signature® Card currently has a 0% APR offer on balance transfers for the first 12 months.

Regular APR

The regular APR requires your attention if you are unable to pay your balances in full each month. Of the credit union cash back cards we’ve selected, Navy Federal Credit Union’s cashRewards cards come with the lowest possible purchase APR. However, the APR you get depends on your credit score and other criteria.

Fees

All the top credit union cash back cards on our list have no annual fees and no foreign transaction fees. Both the Alliant Visa Signature Card and the Power Cash Rewards Visa Signature® Card charge a 3% balance transfer fee. However, the cashRewards cards from Navy Federal do away with this fee.

Added benefits

Even though the cash back credit union credit cards we’ve selected come with no annual fees, you may still expect additional benefits. For instance, all these cards come with a zero liability policy to safeguard against unauthorized transactions. Other card-specific benefits include personal identity theft protection, purchase security, extended warranty protection, price protection, travel accident insurance, auto rental collision damage waiver, rental vehicle coverage and roadside dispatch. You might also get access to a concierge service and travel and emergency assistance services.